Syracuse Men's Basketball Reports Drug Violation

By Ivana Kvesic, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Syracuse University has revealed possible violations of the school's drug policy from within the university's elite men's basketball team, it was announced Monday.

"In accordance with NCAA regulations, it is the University's practice to self-report possible violations to the NCAA. We self-reported issues with drug testing to the NCAA, and there is currently an ongoing inquiry," Syracuse University said in a statement.

"The inquiry does not involve any current SU student-athletes. To ensure to integrity of the ongoing process, we are unable to further comment at this time," the statement added.

The statement came following a Monday report by Yahoo Sports, which conducted a three-month inquiry into drug use within the school's basketball team.

The report cited four anonymous sources, which provided details that at least 10 players on the Syracuse basketball team since 2001 team used illegal drugs but were still permitted to play on the team.

"During a decade in which Syracuse basketball reached the pinnacle of national prominence, the program was awash in positive drug tests and, in many cases, failed to adhere to its internal drug policy while playing ineligible players," the Yahoo Sports report read.

The NCAA is conducting an independent inquiry into the allegations and if Syracuse is found to have knowingly violated its own drug policy, the school could face penalties under the association's "willful violation" clause.

The clause allows the NCAA to bypass the four-year statute of limitations, and typically occurs when a violation by an institution is considered to be deliberate or intentional.

The Yahoo Sports report did not specify which of the university's basketball stars were implicated in the drug use.

Head basketball coach Jim Boeheim declined to comment on the reports and current investigation.